Can I use any smartphone as hotspot for my ipad2 ?

[interinfo]

Operating system used does not matter ?

 

[BFizzzle]

usually, what type of smartphone is it?

 

[interinfo]

I don't have 1...that's why I ask

 

[LostSoul80]

If the smartphone has an hotspot feature, yes.
You can't connect via bluetooth (for example some older BBs).

 

[thewitt]

As long as it creates a wifi hotspot, yes.

 

[interinfo]

As long as it creates a wifi hotspot, yes.

Most smartphones can do that ?

 

[seajay96]

it also depends on your carrier and your data plan....

 

[Ryno76]

yup you can! all depends on the plan you get and who your carrier is. My GF has T-Mobile and there was no extra charge to use the phone as a hotspot. Just uses up your data, but very handy if you just have a wifi iPad, like we do.

 

[interinfo]

yup you can! all depends on the plan you get and who your carrier is. My GF has T-Mobile and there was no extra charge to use the phone as a hotspot. Just uses up your data, but very handy if you just have a wifi iPad, like we do.

Most operating systems on smartphones have the software to act as a hotspot regardless of the carrier ?

 

[Bobby.e]

If the smartphone has an hotspot feature, yes.
You can't connect via bluetooth (for example some older BBs).

You can bluetooth tether an iphone to an ipad. I don't see why you couldn't with another one. I will try my nexus later and post back.

 

[LostSoul80]

You can bluetooth tether an iphone to an ipad. I don't see why you couldn't with another one. I will try my nexus later and post back.

With an iPhone it works. With other smartphones (I have tested two BBs and a Samsung) it doesn't.

 

[takeshi74]

Most smartphones can do that ?

Depends on the smartphone. If this is dealbreaker for you then make sure before you buy. It's like buying anything else: buy based on your needs/wants/preferences/budget/etc. Don't just assume.

Operating system used does not matter ?

Nope. Consider that countless WiFi access points don't run IOS and work just fine with IOS devices (as well as other clients running different OS's). WiFi is WiFi.

 

[HishamAkhtar]

With an iPhone it works. With other smartphones (I have tested two BBs and a Samsung) it doesn't.

Really? doesn't hotspotting just create a WiFi zone? Surely it doesn't matter which device makes it?

 

[Bobby.e]

Really? doesn't hotspotting just create a WiFi zone? Surely it doesn't matter which device makes it?

BT does not. You connect like you do a headset.

 

[BluePhoenixRa]

Most smartphones can do that ?

Most smartphones have the ability to tether by default, but some carriers have it as a locked feature. You'll have to the take the tethering plan to be able to turn on tethering on your phone.

Like AT&T iPhones require that you get a tethering plan, the option to tether is already on your phone, you just can't do it unless you have the plan from AT&T.

One last resort type of option you can do is jailbreak it and download a tethering app. But that's only if you know what to do and what you're getting yourself into. If not, don't. Just get a plan.

I tether my iPad via my jail broken iPhone.

 

[Supacali]

There's a free app on Android that does not require you to root called Foxfi so if your smartphone is android based, this app works on making it a hotspot no matter if your carrier locks the hotspot feature or not.

 

[bembol]

Do you have a Cell Phone and looking to upgrade to a Smart Phone so you can use it as a Hotspot?

I'm asking because if you don't have one, sell the iPad 2 and upgrade to iPad 3 with LTE.

Using the Samsung Galaxy S3, I got for my mother cost me $75 after Costco rebate and on a three year contract the Voice & 6GB Data is $70 a month. The 6GB was just a promotion, usually it's only 500MB-2GB.

Rogers & other Canadian Carriers iPad/Tablet plans are only $30 for 2GB for Data and it's month-to-month, you can also get 500MB for $15.

This is a cheaper alternative, seriously who uses Voice to make calls. Everyone is (on Data) using iMessages, Facebook, Twitter, E-Mail & Forums.

 

[MacMane]

I have a tmobile Samsung galaxy S 4g, and I use my hotspot/wireless tethering for my new iPad all the time. I was staying in a hotel for a week that had horrible wifi, had both my iPad 2 and my new iPad connected to my hotspot at the same damn time, worked flawlessly.

 

[thekb]

There's a free app on Android that does not require you to root called Foxfi so if your smartphone is android based, this app works on making it a hotspot no matter if your carrier locks the hotspot feature or not.

+10 for Foxfi. Works like a champ.

 

[thewitt]

You can bluetooth tether an iphone to an ipad. I don't see why you couldn't with another one. I will try my nexus later and post back.

It will not work. The Bluetooth tether runs specific iOS software on both devices. It's does not implement a standard bluetooth protocol.

 

[Major.Robto]

Why tether with bluetooth? That seems like a major waist of power and speed!

I would get a iphone with t-moble for hotspoot. best bet you can get.